Fixture problem can be fixed

by NEIL BELFORD

THE vexed question of the the inequities in the AFL draw is probably the biggest solvable problem facing the AFL. The fact that Western Australia is a long way from eastern Australia seems insoluble at this stage. The fact that dumb contracts exist with Carlton and the MCC regarding fixturing also seems insoluble.

While the solution proposed here has been mooted before, I'm not sure who the author was; in fact like most correct solutions it has probably occurred to a number of people independently. All good systems have a name so let's call this one the independent fixture.

The great beauty of the independent fixture is that it is completely fair and can be run in 22 home and away rounds, the same number of weeks as the current arrangement. The added bonus is that the problems with the final eight also get fixed in the fallout.

The question is why has the AFL commission has steadfastly ignored the variants of this solution every time it has been put up. The answer is that they have believed they can play god with attendance by contriving to stage Melbourne based "blockbusters". Unfortunately they have come seriously unstuck with this in season 2002, and the whole contrived blockbuster concept is seriously inequitable. Real blockbusters occur dynamically and will always confound the preseason spin doctoring marketeers. It is a ridiculously dangerous practice - for example Collingwood supporters turn out in large numbers without contrivances or on-field success, as do Adelaide supporters. Richmond supporters fluctuate enormously on performance as do West Coast Eagles supporters. The point here is that the "blockbuster" marketeers have failed this year, and in any event they should never be able to stand in the way of a fair and equitable fixture.

So - the "independent fixture" works in a three series season; the home and away, the conference, and the finals.

1. Home and away series.

In rounds 1 to 15 each team plays every other team once. The AFL commission can engineer their hearts out on this part of the fixture.

2. Conference series.

At the end of the home and away series the clubs are divided into two conferences according to their position on the ladder. Teams finishing in positions 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 play each other once in the 'odds conference'. Teams finishing in positions 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 play each other once in the 'evens conference'. Teams commence the conference season with the points and percentage tallies they earned in the home and away series. The conference series will take seven weeks to complete, giving a total of 22 rounds of matches required to determine the finalists. At the end of the conference series the top four teams in each conference form the eight finalists.

The great strength of the conference is that the splitting of the clubs into two equal ranking groups at round 15 ensures the final eight are all deserving of their position. It also adds interest to the season at a time at which it is often falling away for many.

3. Finals series.

For the finals series the eight finalists are divided into a two sided draw. On the left side of the draw are the first and third finishers in the odds conference, and the second and fourth finishers in the evens conference. On the right side of the draw are the first and third finishers in the evens conference, and the second and fourth finishers in the odds conference. This crossover is another equalisation step, catering for the possibility one conference is more powerful than the other.

In the first week of finals both sides of the draw play an elimination final between the respective teams 3 and 4, and a qualifying final between the respective teams 1 and 2. (four matches in total, two teams are eliminated).

In the second week of the finals the winners of the elimination finals play the qualifying finals losers in semi finals. The qualifying final winners have the week off. (two matches in total, two teams are eliminated).

In the third week of the finals the semi finals winners play the qualifying finals winners in preliminary finals. (two matches in total, two teams are eliminated)

In the fourth week of the finals the winners of the preliminary finals play in the grand final.

Why can't we have a fair football fixture? Here is one that can be implemented in 2003. If it's good enough for 18-year-old boys to be forced to move all over Australia in the name of equity let's hear from those wonderful fair and equitable commissioners - can we have the independent fixture?

Can AFL CEO Wayne Jackson and his fair and equitable commissioners get their heads around the independent fixture?

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